FOUR Arsenal players danced with delight in front of a sea of orange at FC Twente’s stadium on Sunday as the Netherlands became only the fourth nation to lift the European Championship trophy.

Sari van Veenendaal, Vivianne Miedema, Danielle van de Donk and Dominique Janssen all flew the flag for Holland and the Gunners in front of almost 29,000 fans in Enschede as the host nation beat Denmark.

Six goals flew in during a thrilling final, two of them coming from Miedema, the second a piece of individual brilliance in the dying minutes that will no doubt have FA Women’s Super League goalkeepers quaking in their boots when Arsenal’s season gets underway.

“One of the best finals I’ve seen for a long time,” was the verdict of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, a pundit for Channel 4 during the tournament.

Wright, who had said he had been so impressed by the dedication and determination on display at the Euros that he would love to manage the England women’s team if he had his coaching badges, was not the only former Arsenal star commentating on the final. Kelly Smith, an Arsenal Quadruple winner and Euro 2009 silver medallist with England, also covered the match and afterwards declared: “It’s made me want to come out of retirement! I’m so pleased for the development of the women’s game.”

Miedema, the 21-year-old former Bayern Munich striker who was signed to fanfare by Arsenal in the summer, finished the tournament with four goals, but was pipped to the golden boot by her team-mate, England hot-shot Jodie Taylor, who bagged five.

More than 40 players from the FA WSL 1 and 2 were on show for their countries during the 16-nation tournament in Holland. Nine of those turn out for Arsenal and, after the final, Smith urged fans in England to support their women’s sides when the WSL kicks off again in late September.